Man from Myrtle Beach allegedly kidnapped a 15-year-old girl and transported her across state borders
HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) – A 15-year-old girl’s family is accusing a 29-year-old Myrtle Beach man of abducting her and bringing her over state lines last month.
It also isn’t the first time the man, Brandon O’Hara, has been accused of wrongdoing with minors. In 2019, he was accused of raping a child. In January of this year, he was charged with first-degree criminal sexual conduct after allegedly raping a woman. He was given a $30,000 bond.
News13’s Jackie Librizzi looked into why O’Hara is not on the South Carolina Sex Offender Registry.
“She was under the impression that he [O’Hara] was a 17-year-old that he had been talking on Snapchat for about a year or so,” a family member of the girl said.
The family member said O’Hara is continuing his actions — meaning they have to pay the price.
“It would be June 19, Brandon picked her up from her residence, loaded up suitcase for clothing, some other materials and basically made a b-line back to Myrtle Beach to, I guess work,” he said.
The girl’s family member said O’Hara works at a Myrtle Beach hotel, though it’s not clear which one.
“I guess the police had tracked him and knew who he was, confronted him at work,” the man said. “When the police confronted him, he told them where she was located.”
News13 has reached out to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the Greene County Sheriff’s Office in Indiana where the girl lives, and O’Hara for comments or more details about the case.
Horry County police said there’s no report from the incident, but there was a call for service. The girl’s family member said when the police picked her up, her belongings were still in O’Hara’s possession.
“From Brandon’s report, [they] found family members, contacted his father and at that point, explained to him what was going on,” he said. “I told him I desperately need her materials and belongings back.”
The man said he was able to get a hold of the girl’s belongings, and now, she’s safe. He said he didn’t file a police report since he’s not her legal guardian, but he asked the parents to file a report, as well as contact the FBI.
O’Hara’s 2019 charge was nolle prossed, meaning the 15th Circuit Solicitor’s Office chose not to prosecute. On that same day, O’Hara pleaded guilty to first-degree assault and battery to a minor under the state’s youthful offender act.
It allows people under the age of 25 to have their conviction removed from public record. O’Hara was 24 at the time and received probation along with a permanent restraining order.
News13 reached out to the South Carolina spokesperson for the FBI to see if it’s investigating. We’re waiting to hear back.